Myocardial Infarction and its
Homoeopathic Management

By

Dr. Pawan S. Chandak

Coronary
Heart Disease is the leading cause 25-30% of death in most industrialized
countries.

On screening
of persons over the age of 30 years by a 12-lead ECG, I Chandigarh(urban
population) the prevalence was found to be 65.4 and 47.8 per 1000 males and
female respectively.

Myocardial
infarction: It
deals with problems associated with blockage of the coronary arteries. These
vessels normally Supply oxygenated blood to the heart muscles. Blockage of the
coronary vessel may occur abruptly secondary to a blood clot or spasm of one of
the coronary vessels.

Most often
this occurs in a coronary artery that has been, narrowed from the progressive
effects of atherosclerosis.

Angina:
It means chest
pain as a result of the hart’s inability to receive adequate blood flow (and
oxygen). When the blood flow is completely interrupted myocardial infarction
(heart attack) results.

Angina may
be further described as ‘stable’ meaning to chest pain is controlled and
typical.

Or
‘unstable’ meaning that the chest pain ‘brand new’ or increasing in
severity and in frequency

Coronary
artery disease: It
describes the problem more separately. When the coronary arteries have become
narrowed the are considered ‘diseased’. This occurs through a gradual
occlusive process in the arteries known as Atherosclerosis.

Patient with
coronary artery disease are at risk for myocardial infarction.

Risk
factors for Coronary Artery Disease:

1)Smoking

2)Obesity

3)Diabetes

4)Hypertension

5)Family History of heart attack
(parents or sibling)

6)High blood cholesterol

7)Prior Heart attack

8)Low HDL lipoprotein level

9)Elevated LDL level

10)High blood triglycerides

Clinical
Features:

Common
symptoms of acute myocardial infarction:

Substernal (mid-chest) discomfort – this is usually a dull pain
that may radiate to the arm or ‘jaw’.

Associated
symptoms:

Shortness of
breath, sweating and nausea.

Typically
the pain is provoked by exertion.

Myocardial
infarction occurs more commonly in males over the age of 26.

An
myocardial infarction under the age of 26 in male and under the age of 35 in
female is unusual.

Aproxiamately
10% patirents having a myocardial infarction may have few symptoms (silent MI)
or not at all.

Mi is more
commonly in elderly persons and in those with history of diabetes.

Cardiac
symptoms can vary in some patients.

Some
patients may experience ‘chest tightness’, upper
abdominal pain (that radiate to the back) and or sudden sweating with or without shortness of breath.

Due to
myriad of presentation a detailed evaluation is critical.

Detailed
Evaluation:

History and
physical examination.

Clinical
finding may include a rapid pulse or irregular pulse.

The patient
who is experiencing an MI will more often than not, have clear evidence for a
heart attack on their electrocardiogram.

8)Vitamin E administration of 200-400 IU can decrease the level of LDL.

9)See a physician immediately if you are experiencing chest pain or any
potential cardiac symptoms.

Homoeopathic
Management:

Homoeopathy
have widest scope in the management of cases of coronary artery disease.

If
we go through specifics following medicines are very useful.

ACONITE
(3).Attacks of intense pain
extending from the heart down the left arm, with numbness and tingling of
fingers and fear and anxiety that he will drop dead in the street. Nervous
and confused in a crowd. Palpitations with anxiety, cardiac oppression, and
syncope. Palpitations < when walking, lancinating stitches prevent the
patient from assuming the erect position or taking a deep breath. Panic
attacks.

ARNICA (3).Strain to the heart muscle, producing
uncomplicated hypertrophy, with swelling of hand from any exertion, hands turn
red when hanging down. Heart feels as if tightly grasped by the hand the whole
chest feels sore and bruised and cannot bear the clothing to touch it. Pulse is
full and strong. Tells everyone he is fine and does not want to be approached. Often
the first remedy to use, especially if the heart attack has been brought on by
exertion.

CACTUS (3).
Sensation of constriction of the heart, feels
as if it were compressed or squeezed by an iron hand. Heart pains come on
slowly, gradually increase then gradually subside. Angina pectoris, with
suffocation, cold sweat and ever-present iron band feeling. Blood clots. Pulse
feeble, irregular quick, without strength. Melancholic, taciturn, sad, and ill
humored. Worse < about noon, lying on the left side, walking, going upstairs.
11 a.m. and 11 p.m.. Better > open air.

DIGITALIS (2).
Sudden sensation that the heart stood still. Pulse very small, slow, feeble,
intermitting every third, fifth and seventh beat. Feels
as if the heart would stop beating if she moved. Blueness, coldness and
suffocation. Despondency, fearful, anxious for the future. Worse < when
sitting erect, after meals, music.

Better
> when stomach is empty, in open air.

KALMIA (2).
Sharp, severe pains about heart taking way the breath with shooting down into
stomach and abdomen with slow pulse and numb feelings in left arm. Pains
often travel downward in heart attacks. Rapid and visible beating of the
heat, paroxysms of anguish with great breathlessness, pains in limbs, stitching
lower part of chest, right sided face ache.

Worse < when
bending over and better > by sitting erect.

LACHESIS (3).Great loquacity jumps from on subject
to another. Fits of suffocation and fainting, especially when moving, pulse
weak, intermittent, stitches in left side of chest. Can’t
bear anything tight around the neck or waist. Horrible, smothering feeling
about the heart awaking him from sleep and compelling him to leave the bed,
dread of going to sleep on account of marked aggravation. Pain
begins on the left and extends to the right. The face is purple, mottled
puffed. looks swollen and bloated.

Worse < sleep, and on going to sleep,
left side, and heat.

LACTRODECTUS
MACTANS (3).
The bite of this spider simulates a heart attack. Constriction of the chest
muscles, with radiation to the back. Gasping breath. Violent,
pericardial pain extending to the axilla down the arm and forearm to fingers
with numbness of extremity. Pulse feeble and rapid. Skin as cold as marble.
Fears losing his breath. Use this remedy
if no other is specifically indicated.

NAJA (2). Sense
of oppression in chest, as if a hot iron had been run into it and a big weight
put upon it. Angina, threatened paralysis of the heart, body cold, pulse
slow, weak, irregular and tremulous.Angina
pains extending to the nape of neck, left shoulder and arm with anxiety and fear
of deathCan not lie on left side,
but has great > relief of pain and breathlessness when lying on right side.

Worse
< from stimulants.

Better
> walking of riding in open air.

SPIGELIA (2).Great breathlessness at every change of
position. Breathlessness, must lie on right side with head high. Sharp,
shooting pains from the heart to the back, radiating form the heart down the
arm, over the chest, and down the spine. Great weakness of the body after
walking, Great oppression or anxiety about the heart. Craving for hot water
which > ameliorates. Fear of sharp pointed things such as needle and pins,
afraid of injections and acupuncture.

Worse
< from touch, motion, noise, turning , washing , concussion.

Better
> lying on right side with head high, inspiring.

TARENTULA (2).Heart suddenly ceases to beat, with fear
of death and constant want of air. Trembling and thumbing of the heart as
from a fright. Palpitation with praecordial anguish, sensation as if heart
twisted and turned around. Heart attack from seeing others in trouble. Extreme
restlessness.